An Amelia Island River Cruise Getaway: See the Coast From a Different Perspective

You can experience Amelia Island from the beach.

You can wander the historic streets of Fernandina Beach.

You can bike beneath the oaks, paddle through the marsh or spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing beside the Atlantic.

But one of our favorite ways to see this corner of the coast is from the water.

Elizabeth Pointe's Cruise Through Amelia Package turns an afternoon on the river into an effortless part of your Amelia Island getaway.

Two tickets for a scenic cruise toward Cumberland Island.

A made-to-order picnic lunch for two.

A bottle of wine.

And an oceanfront room waiting for you when the adventure is over.

For couples looking for something beyond another day on the beach, it's a chance to experience two barrier islands, coastal wildlife, salt marshes and centuries of history—all without having to plan every detail yourself.

What Is the Elizabeth Pointe River Cruise Package?

The Cruise Through Amelia Package is designed to add a ready-made coastal experience to your stay at Elizabeth Pointe.

The package currently includes:

• Two tickets for the Beach Creek/Cumberland coastal cruise
• A made-to-order picnic lunch for two prepared by Elizabeth Pointe's culinary team
• A bottle of wine

The approximately 90-minute afternoon cruise explores the waters around Amelia Island and Cumberland Island National Seashore, combining coastal scenery, wildlife and history.

Instead of researching tours, figuring out lunch and building an entire itinerary yourself, much of the afternoon is already taken care of.

Which is exactly what vacation should feel like.

Where Does the Amelia Island River Cruise Go?

The cruise travels the coastal waterways between Amelia Island, Florida, and Cumberland Island, Georgia.

That means you're seeing two islands—and two states—from the same boat.

The route follows the creeks and rivers around the islands, providing views of salt marshes, shoreline, maritime forest and historic sites.

When tides allow, the boat can travel farther into Beach Creek on Cumberland Island, bringing passengers closer to the island's marsh environment and the historic Dungeness area.

It's a very different perspective from seeing the coast from shore.

Instead of looking out at the water, you're suddenly surrounded by the landscape that makes this part of northeast Florida and coastal Georgia so distinctive.

What Is Cumberland Island National Seashore?

Just across the state line from Amelia Island sits one of the most extraordinary stretches of protected coastline in the Southeast.

Cumberland Island National Seashore preserves barrier-island ecosystems ranging from beaches and dunes to maritime forest, tidal creeks and extensive salt marshes.

Those tidal creeks are an important part of Cumberland's environment. Rising and falling tides move water, nutrients and oxygen throughout the marsh, supporting a remarkably productive coastal ecosystem.

From the boat, visitors can get a sense of just how wild the island remains.

There's no skyline.

No row of beachfront condos.

Just marsh, forest, water and the occasional reminder that people have been living, working and building here for centuries.

Can You See Wildlife on the Cruise?

Very possibly.

The waterways around Amelia and Cumberland Islands are home to an enormous variety of coastal wildlife.

Amelia River Cruises notes that passengers frequently see dolphins, sea turtles, birds and other wildlife, while Cumberland Island itself is particularly well known for its undeveloped habitat. Wildlife sightings vary naturally from trip to trip, so nothing is guaranteed—but looking is part of the fun.

The salt marshes themselves are especially active habitats.

Wading birds feed along mudflats, small fish move through tidal waters and countless smaller creatures depend on the marsh for food and protection.

Bring your camera.

But don't spend the entire cruise looking through it.

What Are the Dungeness Ruins on Cumberland Island?

One of the most memorable historic sights associated with the cruise is Dungeness.

The mansion was constructed beginning in the 1880s as a winter residence for Thomas Carnegie, younger brother and business partner of Andrew Carnegie, and his wife Lucy.

Over the following decades, the estate grew into an enormous approximately 35,000-square-foot mansion surrounded by additional structures.

The mansion burned in 1959.

Today, its brick and stone walls remain standing as dramatic ruins on the southern end of Cumberland Island.

From the water, that history gives the scenery another layer.

You're not simply cruising through a beautiful coastal environment.

You're moving past a landscape that has stories of Indigenous peoples, Spanish missions, plantations, wealthy industrial families, coastal communities and eventual preservation as a national seashore.

Why Take a Cruise Instead of Visiting Cumberland Island on Foot?

Both experiences are worthwhile, but they're very different.

Visiting Cumberland Island itself generally requires planning transportation and dedicating a significant portion of the day to exploring on foot or bicycle.

A river cruise gives travelers a much easier way to see the island's coastline, hear its stories and experience the surrounding ecosystem without committing an entire day to the excursion.

Amelia River Cruises' coastal tour keeps passengers aboard the boat throughout the approximately 1.5-hour trip, with shaded areas, open seating and onboard restrooms.

That makes it particularly attractive if you're spending only a few days on Amelia Island.

You can experience the water in the afternoon and still have plenty of time for the beach, historic Fernandina Beach or a relaxing evening back at Elizabeth Pointe.

Don't Forget the Picnic

There's another part of the package we shouldn't overlook.

Lunch.

Elizabeth Pointe prepares a made-to-order picnic lunch for two, packed so you can bring it along while exploring or enjoy it back at the property's beachfront dining area.

A bottle of wine is included as well.

That gives you some flexibility in how the day unfolds.

Have lunch before heading toward the marina.

Bring it along for part of your afternoon adventure.

Or save the experience for the water's edge when you're back at the inn.

Not every vacation needs to be scheduled down to the minute.

What Does a River Cruise Day at Elizabeth Pointe Look Like?

This is how we'd do it.

Morning: Wake Up Beside the Atlantic

Start the day at Elizabeth Pointe with the thing you came to Amelia Island for in the first place:

the ocean.

The inn sits directly on the Atlantic with two private beach-access points, and guests have beach chairs, umbrellas and towels provided as part of their stay.

Take an early beach walk.

Sit on the porch.

Or stay in bed longer than you normally would.

There's no wrong answer.

Breakfast: Let Someone Else Cook

Elizabeth Pointe guests receive a chef-prepared breakfast each morning, so there's no immediate need to start hunting for a breakfast restaurant.

Have coffee.

Eat breakfast overlooking the coast.

Then give yourself a slow morning before the day's adventure.

Late Morning: Beach or Fernandina Beach

Spend a few hours exactly how you want.

Stay on the sand.

Or make the short trip into historic Fernandina Beach, where Centre Street is lined with boutiques, galleries, restaurants and historic buildings. Elizabeth Pointe is only minutes from the historic district.

There is no need to squeeze in everything.

You're coming back.

Afternoon: Get on the Water

Then it's cruise time.

Head toward the Fernandina Beach waterfront and board your afternoon river cruise.

For the next hour and a half, the perspective changes completely.

Amelia Island behind you.

Cumberland Island ahead.

Salt marsh on either side.

Birds overhead.

Maybe dolphins beside the boat.

And stories from a part of the coast that looks considerably different from the Florida many visitors expect.

Evening: Come Back to the Beach

After the cruise, return to Elizabeth Pointe.

This is where the package makes particular sense.

Your adventure ends at one body of water and your hotel is waiting beside another.

Elizabeth Pointe sits directly on one of Amelia Island's Atlantic beaches, with porches overlooking the dunes and ocean.

Change clothes.

Open the wine.

Take a walk along the beach.

Or simply find a chair and do very little.

You accomplished enough today.

Why Amelia Island Is So Good for Nature Lovers

One of Amelia Island's biggest strengths is that you don't have to choose between beach vacation and outdoor adventure.

You can have both.

The Atlantic defines the island's eastern edge.

Salt marshes, rivers and tidal creeks stretch along the western side.

Historic Fernandina Beach occupies the north end.

And nearby Cumberland Island adds an even wilder landscape just across the water.

That's part of why Elizabeth Pointe's experience packages make sense here.

A stay can move between completely different versions of the coast without traveling very far.

One day might involve a river cruise.

Another might be kayaking through a tidal creek.

Another might consist almost entirely of reading beside the ocean.

We'll defend that third itinerary just as strongly.

Is the River Cruise Package Good for Couples?

We think it's particularly well suited to a couples getaway.

There's enough activity to make the day memorable without making the vacation exhausting.

You get an experience to share.

You see somewhere new.

Lunch is handled.

Wine is included.

And afterward, you're coming back to a small oceanfront inn rather than a massive resort.

Elizabeth Pointe itself was originally designed as an intimate boutique lodge and continues to position the property around peaceful, personal coastal stays.

That's why so many of the pieces fit together naturally:

Oceanfront room.

Breakfast in the morning.

River cruise in the afternoon.

Wine when you return.

Atlantic sunrise the next day.

Sometimes a good romantic getaway doesn't need rose petals and an elaborate itinerary.

It just needs time together somewhere beautiful.

Make the Water Part of Your Amelia Island Getaway

It's easy to come to Amelia Island and spend the entire trip looking at the ocean.

We recommend getting out on the water at least once.

Elizabeth Pointe's Cruise Through Amelia Package makes that easy by combining a scenic river cruise with a chef-prepared picnic for two and a bottle of wine.

You get Amelia Island.

You get Cumberland Island.

You get nature.

You get history.

Then you come back to your room beside the Atlantic.

There are more complicated ways to plan a vacation.

We prefer this one.

Frequently Asked Questions About Amelia Island River Cruises

Are there river cruises from Amelia Island?

Yes. Amelia River Cruises operates narrated cruises from the Fernandina Beach waterfront that explore the waterways surrounding Amelia Island and neighboring Cumberland Island.

Can you see Cumberland Island from Amelia Island?

Yes. Cumberland Island, Georgia sits immediately north of Amelia Island and can be seen and explored from the surrounding waterways on several local boat tours.

What is included in Elizabeth Pointe's river cruise package?

Elizabeth Pointe's Cruise Through Amelia Package includes two cruise tickets, a made-to-order picnic lunch for two and a bottle of wine.

How long is the Amelia Island river cruise?

The cruise included with the package is approximately 1.5 hours.

Can you see the Dungeness ruins from a boat tour?

The cruise explores the waterways around Cumberland Island and, when conditions allow, may travel up Beach Creek for closer views toward the Dungeness area. The historic Dungeness mansion ruins remain one of Cumberland Island's best-known landmarks.

What wildlife might I see on an Amelia Island cruise?

Possible sightings include dolphins, sea turtles and numerous coastal birds, although wildlife sightings naturally vary by trip.

Where should I stay for an Amelia Island river cruise?

Elizabeth Pointe provides an oceanfront boutique-hotel option on Amelia Island and offers a package that combines accommodations with two river-cruise tickets, picnic lunch and wine.

Is Elizabeth Pointe directly on the beach?

Yes. Elizabeth Pointe is oceanfront and offers two private beach-access points along with chairs, umbrellas and beach towels for guests.

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